City Council Meeting Recap: August 12, 2025
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The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on August 12, 2025, which provides an overview of Council decisions. All related documents for the decisions outlined below and the full agenda from the meeting are available by visiting the button below.
Council Meeting Video, Agenda & Documents
Provincial Wildfire Update
At the meeting, the mayor forwent the go-around to focus on the ongoing wildfire situation, especially its impact on residents of CBS, Paradise, and St. John’s. He urged Galway and Southlands residents to prepare for possible evacuation, follow official updates, and stay informed as conditions can change quickly. He commended firefighters and first responders for their efforts, thanked staff and the Canada Games community, emphasized public safety, and reminded people to avoid the affected area.
Wildfire updates can be found at StJohns.ca/Alerts.
Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network New Installations and Rates
The City of St. John’s is updating its timeline and rates for public EV charging stations. Currently, Level 2 chargers are available at six sites. With federal ZEVIP funding, 26 faster Level 2 chargers (up to 19.2 kW) will be installed between 2025–2027 at priority locations including Newtown Road Tennis Club, Cavendish Square, Kenmount Terrace Community Centre, and Quidi Vidi Lake, along with several others.
Revised rates:
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Existing Level 2 (6.2–7.2 kW): $2.00/hour (up from $1.50)
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New faster Level 2 (16.6–19.2 kW): $4.50/hour
Fees cover electricity, maintenance, monitoring, and a reserve for replacements. Rates remain below market averages in other provinces and still offer significant savings over gasoline. Charger and parking fees will be paid via the City’s PayByPhone app.
Planning Applications and Information:
A planning application is a formal request to amend the Envision St. John's Municipal Plan and/or City’s Envision St. John’s Development Regulations. This would include applications to rezone or change the text in the Municipal Plan or Development Regulations. An amendment can be initiated by city staff, City Council, or a property owner.
Active applications can be viewed on the Planning St. John's webpage, which allows the public to learn more about planning applications, track progress, give feedback and ask questions and view upcoming public meetings all in one place.
The following planning applications were reviewed at the meeting:
Amendment Adoption: 222 LeMarchant Road |
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Council was asked to adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment No. 64, 2025 to allow ground-floor dwelling units in the Commercial Office Hotel (COH) Zone, enabling the conversion of the former Extended Stay St. John’s hotel at 222 LeMarchant Road into a 99-unit residential rental building (96 studios, 3 one-bedrooms).
The amendment would permit first-storey units as a discretionary use, aligning with City housing policies. Public consultation included newspaper ads, mailouts, web postings, and surveys, resulting in mixed feedback: one supportive submission citing the need for density, and several opposing due to concerns about safety, crime, and the building’s potential occupants.
The proposal involves no changes to building height, footprint, or access, and the units would be market rentals. If approved, the amendment will be sent to the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs and Community Engagement for registration.
Decision: Deferred unanimously due to resident petition. |
Rezoning: 670 Kenmount Road |
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Council was asked to consider rezoning part of 670 Kenmount Road from Residential 2 (R2) to Residential Reduced Lot (RRL) to allow 19 single detached homes on smaller lots.
The change, requested by Pinnacle Engineering on behalf of the property owner, is part of an active subdivision application that will also create 33 lots already zoned RRL. The proposed rezoning is consistent with surrounding land uses, aligns with the Municipal Plan’s policies for moderate density increases, and would not require a land use report due to its compatibility with the neighbourhood.
If Council proceeds, staff recommend public notification (but not a public meeting).
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Amendment Adoption: Residential Uses and Subsidiary Dwelling Units |
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Council is asked to adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment No. 57, 2025, which supports the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund goals by expanding residential uses in multiple zones and easing rules for subsidiary dwelling units.
Key changes include:
Public feedback was mixed—some supported the added housing options, while others opposed Semi-Detached Dwellings in the R1 Zone. If adopted, the amendment will be sent to the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs and Community Engagement for registration.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Appointment: Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
Council approved the appointment of Caroline Godin (Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation) to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, filling an existing vacancy in the Cultural, Indigenous, and Intangible Cultural Heritage Organization category. This follows a May call for members, which received four applications reviewed by staff.
Petition: 222 LeMarchant Road
Residents near 222 LeMarchant Road submitted a petition requesting a meeting with Council to discuss the proposed 99-unit housing development at that location and share their concerns. Councillor Ravencroft presented the petition at the meeting.
Permits Issued
Council was provided with a list of Development Permits and Building Permits issued since the last council meeting for their information.
Weekly Payment Vouchers
Council approved the weekly payment vouchers for the weeks ending July 30 and August 6.
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